Smooth bite attachment for a clam-shell bucket



Feb. 11, 1969 w, HINKEL ETAL 3,426,460

SMOOTH BITE ATTACHMENT FOR A SLAM-SHELL BUCKET Filed Dec. 14, 1966INVENTORS RUSSELL e. HINKEL, SR.

WALTER D. HINKEL A TTORNEY United States Patent 3,426,460 SMOOTH BITEATTACHMENT FOR A CLAM-SHELL BUCKET Walter D. Hinkel, Philadelphia, Pa.(2410 High Road,

Huntingdon Valley, Pa. 19006), and Russell G. Hinkel, Sr., 3277 ParkviewDrive, Bensalem Township, Pa. Substituted for abandoned application Ser.No. 107,819, May 4, 1961. This application Dec. 14, 1966, Ser. No.609,977 US. Cl. 37184 1 Claim Int. Cl. B66c 3/02; E02f 9/28 Thisapplication is a substitute for abandoned application Ser. No. 107,819.

This invention relates to an attachment for certain earth movingmachinery. More particularly it relates to a pair of devices to beremovably attached to a clamshell bucket.

Throughout the specification and claims, this invention is described asa smooth-bite attachment. It is intended to convert the standardclam-shell bucket for smoothing and other functions by providing a coverover the standard teeth thereof. While certain related expedients havebeen known in connection with other types of earth moving machinery, thepresent invention has particular advantages as to cost and speed ofattaching and detaching.

It is an object of this invention to provide a smoothbite attachment toa clam-shell bucket.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pair of smooth biteattachments to a clam-shell bucket with coaction between saidattachments.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a smooth-biteattachment over the teeth on each jaw of a clam-shell bucket.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a pair of easilyattachable and detachable smooth-bite attachments adapted to fit overthe teeth on each jaw of a clam-shell bucket, said attachments beingsecured by a chain, a hook attached to said chain, and a chain binder totighten said chain.

Other aims and objects of this invention are made apparent herein.

The invention is best understood in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a clam-shell bucket equipped withthe smooth-bite attachments;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of a clam-shell bucket equipped witha smooth-bite attachment, taken along line 2-2 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partially fragmented view, partially in cross-section,taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2, of a detail of the smooth-biteattachment fitted over a bucket tooth.

This invention is primarily concerned with converting the normallytoothed biting edge of the clam-shell bucket into a smooth edge for thepurpose of facilitating certain earth operations such as smoothing. Eachattachment is essentially a cover or shield which fits over the teethand is firmly affixed to the bucket structure. It is important that theattachment be rugged, be easily attached and detached, and be capable offitting a wide variety of buckets without any extensive modification orelaborate adjustment procedures. 7

As is explained in more detail below, when it is desired to provide apair of the smooth-bite attachments of this invention on a clam-shellbucket, it may be necessary to make one adjustment of bolted parts toprovide a proper fit, and thereafter, no bolting need be done to attachand detach the smooth-bite attachment. The advantages of this structureinclude increased speed and ease of attachment and detachment,elimination of possible misplacement of bolts and nuts on the job, andavoidance of ditfi- 3,426,460 Patented Feb. 11, 1969 "ice cultiesfollowing the probable corrosion of bolts and nuts 1n use.

A clam-shell bucket is generally designated by reference numeral 100.Parts of this bucket not specifically important in connection with thisinvention are not further identified, since the clam-shell bucket is anitem well known in the art. The bucket 100 includes a pair of jaws 20.Each of the jaws 20 comprises an upper jaw 24 and a lower jaw 21. Aplurality of teeth 22 are aflixed to each lower jaw 21. It is a commonexpedient to fasten the teeth 22 to lower jaw 21 by means of rivets orbolts, as best shown in FIGURE 2. While in many cases it might betheoretically possible to convert the jawed clam-shell bucket to asmooth-bite clam-shell bucket by individually removing each tooth 22 byunbolting, as a practical matter this is not feasible for a number ofreasons. In the typical clam-shell bucket illustrated in FIGURE 2, threeteeth 22 are provided on each jaw. It is understood that a bucket mayhave a greater or lesser number of teeth 22 which may be spaced indifferent ways. It is also apparent that the length of projections ofeach tooth 22 beyond the lower edge of lower jaw 21 may vary indifferent clam-shell buckets. It is therefore necessary that theattachment of the present invention be capable of adapting to variouslength teeth.

The smooth-bite attachment is generally designated by reference numeral10. A major part of attachment 10 is the cover or shield 12. Thestructure of the shield 12 is best understood in connection with FIGURES2 and 3. Shield 12 is fabricated of a generally rectangular sheet ofheavy gauge metal. -It comprises a perforated section 12A. Theperforated section 12A is unitary with the remainder of shield 12. Fromthe bottom edge of perforated section 12A, shield 12 then is bentoutwardly as shown in FIGURE 3 so that the interior angle between thebent portion and the perforated section 12A is obtuse. Thereafter, atthe lower edge of the bent portion, shield 12 is bent upwardly andoutwardly to form outward section 12B which is at an acute angle withthe adjoining portion of shield 12. It is apparent that the outwardsection 123 and the adjoining portion of the shield 12 together form apocket into which teeth 22 may be inserted. The bends in shield 12 areprovided to approximate as near as may be the angled ends of typicalteeth 22. This is best illustrated in FIGURE 3.

At each end of the pocket formed in shield 12, a cap or closure 11 isaflixed to complete the pocket. This cap 11, as best illustrated inFIGURES 1 and 2, takes the form of a generally triangular piece of heavyguage metal, preferably welded to shield 12. The main function of thecap 11 is to re-enforce shield 12.

Each perforated plate 12A is provided with a pair of holding holes 16.As best shown in FIGURE 2, these holding holes 16 are located near theends of shield 12 and have the function of receiving the attaching meanswhereby the shield 12 is removably attached to clam-shell bucket.

The attaching means preferably comprises a chain 17 arranged to form ayoke. At each end of the chain a hook 17A is provided. Each hook 17A maybe inserted and hooked into its holding hole 16 as best shown in FIGURE2. Chain 17 is attached at about its mid-point to a chain binder 18.

The chain binder 18 is a device well known in the art by means of whicha chain may be put under tension or released from tension by the cam andlever action actuated by its handle. It is understood that theillustrated chain binder is merely a preferable means of loosening ortightening chain 17, and that equivalent means, such as turnbuckles, arealso suitable. The particular chain binder shown has the advantage ofspeed of operation.

The upper portion of chain binder 18 terminates in a 3 heavy hook 19which is adapted to fit over the upper jaw 24 of the jaw 20 ofclam-shell bucket 100.

Referring again to FIGURE 2 and perforated section 12A it is seen that aplurality of bolt holes 15 are provided therein. A typical and preferredarrangement is a series of groups of four such holes 15 arranged alongthe length of perforated section 12A. A plurality of extensions 14 arefastened to the outer surface of perforated plate 12A by means of bolts13.

Typically, as shown, four bolts 13 may be provided to secure eachextension 14 to perforated plate 12A by means of the matching holes inthe extensions and in the perforated plate.

It is apparent from FIGURE 2 that upon preparing a smooth-biteattachment for fitting to a particular bucket 100, it is necessary toattach the extensions 14 so that they fall between teeth 22 when in theinstalled and attached position. The plurality of holes 15 are providedto permit this adjustment. Once this adjustment is made and theextensions attached, the extensions may be left permanently in thatposition as long as the attachment 10 is used on the same or a similarbucket 100. It may also be necessary to adjust the length of chain 17 tofit a particular bucket.

After the above adjustments are made, the smooth-bite attachment 10 isinstalled on each jaw of the clam-shell buoket by slipping the teeth 22of the bucket into the pocket formed in shield 12. The upper edge ofperforated plate 12A is positioned inwardly of teeth 22 and abuts thelower edge of jaw 21 of the bucket 100. The extensions 14 are thuspositioned against the outer surface of lower jaw 21, between teeth 22.These extensions 14 help to hold the smooth-bite attachment 10 firmly inposition. Heavy hook 19 on the attaching means is hooked over upper jaw24 as shown and the chain binder 18 is tightened to hold the attachment10 snugly against the jaw 20.

It is apparent that the attachment 10 may be installed on a clam-shellbucket merely by operating the chain binder, and may be removed in thesame manner. Thus, the clam-shell bucket 100 may be rapidly convertedfrom its normal toothed jaw to a smooth jaw without the necessity oftedious fastening procedures. Other advantages of this present structureover prior expedients have been pointed out above.

The scope of this invention is to be determined by the appended claimand is not to be limited to the specific embodiment shown andillustrated which is intended to be illustrative and not limiting.

We claim:

1. A smooth-bite attachment for a clam-shell bucket, said bucket havinga jaw provided with a plurality of teeth extending therefrom; saidattachment comprising a metal shield bent to form a pocket, said shieldhaving an outer section adapted to bear against one side of said teeth,and a perforated section adapted to bear against the other side of saidteeth, said perforated section being longer than said outer section, acap connecting said outer section and said perforated section at eachend of said shield, a plurality of holes in said perforated section, aplurality of extensions, each said extension being equipped with meansremovably connecting said extension to a. selected hole of saidplurality of holes, a chain yoke attached to said perforated section, achain binder attached to the middle of said chain yoke, a hook attachedto that portion of the chain binder remote from the chain yoke, andadapted to hold said smooth-bite attachment to said jaw.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 243,449 6/ 1 881 Irnhorst 37-187842,221 1/ 1907 Martin 294-5l 947,964 2/1910 Collins et al. -37-117.5 X

969,307 9/1910 Sumerlin 3'7-117.5 X 1,762,946 6/1930 Atkinson 37-184 X2,555,752 6/1951 Merola 29451 2,613,912 10/1952 Jordan 37--l17.5 X2,783,558 3/1957 Morgan 3798 2,952,929 9/1960 Lindberg 37117.5 X3,039,210 6/ 1962 Slaughter 37117.5 3,043,032 7/1962 Discenza 37-117.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 563,430 11/1932 Germany.

1,095,756 12/ 1960 Germany.

WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner.

EDGAR S. BURR, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. XzR. 37-1175

1. AN SMOOTH-BITE ATTACHMENT FOR A CLAM-SHELL BUCKET, SAID BUCKET HAVINGA JAW PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF TEETH EXTENDING THEREFROM; SAIDATTACHMENT COMPRISING A METAL SHIELD BENT TO FORM A POCKET, SAID SHIELDHAVING AN OUTER SECTION ADAPTED TO BEAR AGAINST ONEE SIDE OF SAID TEETH,AND A PERFORATED SECTION ADAPTED TO BEAR AGAINST THE OTHER SIDE OF SAIDTEETH, SAID PERFORATED SECTION BEING LONGER THAN SAID OUTER SECTION, ACAP CONNECTING SAID OUTER SECTION AND SAID PERFORATED SECTION AT EACHEND OF SAID SHIELD, A PLURALITY OF HOLES IN SAID PERFORATED SECTION, APLURALITY OF EXTENSIONS, EACH SAID EXTENSION BEING EQUIPPED WITH MEANSREMOVABLY CONNECTING SAID EXTENSION TO A SELECTED HOLE OF SAID PLURALITYOF HOLES, A CHAIN YOKE ATTACHED TO SAID PERFORATED SECTION, A CHAINBINDER ATTACHED TO THE MIDDLE OF SAID CHAIN YOKE, A HOOK ATTACHED TOTHAT PORTION OF THE CHAIN BINDER REMOTE FROM THE CHAIN YOKE, AND ADAPTEDTO HOLD SAID SMOOTH-BIT ATTACHMENT TO SAID JAW.